Striving for a more inclusive public transport in Barcelona
The Challenge
In many EU cities, issues such as pickpocketing, harassment, night-time safety concerns, and infrastructure breakdowns pose significant challenges, deterring people from moving freely and accessing public transportation. Women, who tend to walk, cycle, and use public transport more frequently than men in most urban areas, are often overlooked when it comes to sharing their experiences or tailoring services to meet their needs.
In Barcelona, for instance, women take 80% of their journeys using public transport - 11% more than men - making public transport particularly relevant for this demographic. However, a 2020 survey revealed that approximately 17% of all reported criminal acts occurred within public transport infrastructure, with women constituting 60% of these victims.
On average, women in Barcelona make 5.7 million daily trips, with 50.8% consisting of walking-only journeys and 27.4% involving public transport. Despite their significant reliance on sustainable mobility, authorities often lack the necessary tools to effectively incorporate women's perspectives into urban planning and transportation systems.
The Solution
Inclusify is a citizen engagement tool designed to empower women by addressing their challenges and concerns with the transport system, helping shape future policies that reflect women's experiences. Using WeSolve's innovative tool, the project collected and mapped feedback, enabling detailed analysis to guide policy development. This ensured transport services are equitable and inclusive, fostering a safe and sustainable urban mobility system.
Barcelona metropolitan area was targeted, aiming to make journeys safer and more accessible for women. Inclusify strengthened existing transport policies with a gender perspective while offering an efficient digital solution that actively integrates women's voices into the future of sustainable mobility.
As part of the initiative, WeSolve’s solution is embedded within Barcelona’s existing AMB Mobilitat App. The ultimate goals included achieving a more equitable and accessible mobility system, increasing active and public transport use, reducing crime and road traffic casualties, and fostering a stronger sense of community belonging.
Making an impact
The project was built on the AMB travel app, already used by over 200,000 active users. This provided an efficient way to reach and engage women, empowering them through the new module and co-creating a community. By integrating this dimension into established digital channels, users can contribute to shaping more effective policies aimed at enhancing women's travel safety and experience.
The module is simple, tested, and designed to be scalable, enabling rapid implementation in other cities or metropolitan areas. Since WeSolve was integrated into the mobility app in 2022, it has been used by 36 cities, reaching 6 million citizens. Wherever women use public transportation, WeSolve helps improve safety, equity, and sustainability.
Lessons learnt
The experience gained in Barcelona has demonstrated that the tool is scalable and replicable, making it well-suited for integration into existing urban mobility solutions in cities across Europe and beyond.
Insights from the analysis of the AMB Mobilitat app highlight key areas for improvement:
- User engagement varies by demographics: while 57.3% of respondents reported being regular users, 42.6% did not use the app. Usage declined with age and increased with higher education levels, suggesting the need for more inclusive accessibility strategies.
- App functionality and content require refinement: to broaden adoption, the app’s features and interface should be reviewed to better align with user needs and expectations.
- Awareness and communication need strengthening: many potential users may not be aware of the app or fully understand its benefits. Targeted outreach and clearer messaging about its usefulness could help drive adoption.
By addressing these factors, cities looking to implement the solution can ensure higher engagement and a more effective tool for enhancing safety in public spaces.
